Ecology

Paper Code: 
ZOL-611
Credits: 
3
Contact Hours: 
45.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 
Course objectives:  
This course will enable the students to - 
1. Interpret concepts of Ecosystem. 
2. Contrast biotic and abiotic factors along with the interaction between them. 
3. Describe the Biogeochemical cycles 
4. Examine the characteristics of Population and Community 
5. Assess the types and patterns of Ecological succession 
6. Understand the major biomes of the world 
 
Course Outcomes (COs):  

Course 

Learning outcomes 

(at course level)

Learning and  

teaching strategies

Assessment  Strategies 

Paper  

Code

Paper Title

ZOL-611

Ecology 

Students will  

CO 102: Critique the concepts of  Ecosystem. 

CO 103: Appraise the Biogeochemical  cycles. 

CO 104: Investigate the Characteristics  of Population and Community. 

CO 105: Support the Types and  Patterns of Ecological succession. CO 106: Explore the Major biomes of  the world.

The approach in  teaching: 

Interactive Lectures,  Discussion, Tutorials,  Reading assignments,  Demonstration,  

PowerPoint  

presentations,  

Explanation by videos Learning activities for  the students: 

Self learning  assignments, Effective  questions, Simulation,  Seminar presentation,  Giving tasks, Field 

practical

Class test  

Semester end  examinations, Quiz,  

Assignments,  Presentation 

Surprise test 

Open book test
 
9.00
Unit I: 
UNIT I:
● Autecology & Synecology 
● Concepts of limiting factors 
● Abiotic Factors of Environment—Temperature, light , Pressure
● Substratum-Soil as a substratum 
● Biogeochemical cycles-Nitrogen, Carbon, Water and Sulphur 
● Populations- Characteristics, Regulation of densities, growth curves 
 
 
 
9.00
Unit II: 
UNIT II:
● Ecosystem: 
● Composition in an ecosystem 
● Concepts of food chain, food web. trophic structure 
● Ecological pyramids. 
● Its homeostasis. 
● Functional aspects. 
● Productivity concepts and its determination. 
 
9.00
Unit III: 
UNIT III:
● Community Ecology: 
● Characteristics of natural Communities, structure, composition, stratification. 
● Intraspecific & interspecific relationships 
● Niche concept 
● Predation & parasitism- Concept, Host- parasite relationship 
 
9.00
Unit IV: 
UNIT IV:
● Ecological succession: 
● Types and Patterns, concept of climax. 
● Details of xerosere and hydrosere succession 
● Habitat Ecology: 
● Fresh water 
● Marine 
● Terrestrial- Desert 
● Estuarine water 
 
9.00
Unit V: 
UNIT V:
● Major biomes of the world: 
● Desert. 
● Grassland. 
● Tundra. 
● Temperate 
● Tropical moist Forest and Seasonal forests. 
● Ecology and Human Future: 
● Growth rate 
● Role of human kind in modifying natural communities 
 
Essential Readings: 
● P.D. Sharma, Ecology & Environment Rastogi Publications. 
● Biostatistics; Gupta, S.P. Sultan Chand &Co. 
● SUGGESTED READINGS:: 
● Fundamentals of ecology; Odum, E.P.; W.B.Saunders, New Delhi. 
● Ecology. Gary Miller, Robert, E. Riclefs. W.H. Freeman, USA. 
● Elements of Ecology, 5 Ed Robert Leo Smith et al. Harper Collins. 
● Environmental Biology (Cambridge Advanced Sciences) Michael Reiss.
 
References: 
SUGGESTED READINGS:
● Ladern,D. Modelling in Behavioural Ecology. 
● The Encyclopedia of Animal Ecology, P.D. Moore (Ed), Equinox (Oxford) Ltd., England. 
● Ecology and Field Biology, Robert L Smith, Harper CollinsPub, New York. 
● Textbook of Ecology, G.T. Miller and S. Spoolman, Brookes Cole, England. 
● Bencroft, H. Introduction to Biostatistics Harper and Row. New York, 1957. 
● Bailey, N.T.J. Statistical method in Biology Low Priced Text Book English Language  Society, London, 1959. 
● Dunn. O J., Basic Statistics: A Primer for Biomedical Science John Wiley & Sons. Inc.  New York, 1964.
 
e-RESOURCES:
 
e-JOURNALS:
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Academic Year: 
2022-2023
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